Devon Cricket Board - Devon on top before rain stops play

Devon on top before rain stops play

DEVON v SHROPSHIRE – DAY ONE

DEVON'S bowlers came to life in the afternoon session of the game against Shropshire at Exmouth before rain stopped play at tea.

Shropshire, 106 for one at lunch, had reached 243 for six after a struggle.

The last man out before the break, taken 10 minutes early due to a shower, was left-hander Richard Oliver for 58.

Having won the toss and elected to bat, Shroshire lost Jono Whitney in the third over of the day when Trevor Anning snared him lbw for five.

That was the only wicket Devon gained before lunch as Chris Murtagh (45) and Ryan Lockley (40) saw Shropshire through to 106 for one at the break, a stand of 96.

Both players rode their luck as Devon repeatedly found the edge, but the ball wouldn’t go to hand.

Lockley was relieved to one of his snicks go through the slips in the over before lunch.

Immediately after lunch Devon claimed two wickets in successive balls.

First to go was Murtagh, lbw to Chris Bradley when he jumped back in front of his stumps and was hit on the pads. He made 66.

Lockley (46) went next ball in similar fashion to the first delivery of Anning's next over, leaving Shropshire 133 for three.

Jamie Ralph was in and out for 10 as Shropshire subsided to 155 for four. Bradley bowled him as he advanced down the track looking for a swish over mid-wicket.

Bradley collected his third wicket when he snared Tom Collins lbw, leaving Salop 183 for five.

Simon Gregory and Collins added 54 before the next wicket fell: Collins well taken low down standing up to the stumps by Matt Thompson off David Lye for 58.

Earlier, Bradley took over the Devon captaincy following the withdrawal of Neil Hancock due to injury.

Hancock was hit in the face by a Trevor Anning bouncer playing for Sidmouth against Exmouth yesterday.

Hancock,who wasn’t wearing a helmet, suffered a broken nose and could be out of action for a while.

“He has an open fracture inside his nose and until the swelling goes down doctors won’t be able to operate,” said Sidmouth captain Will Murray.

Budleigh’s Charles Morris stepped in at short notice to replace Hancock in the side.

Tea, 74 overs: Shropshire 243-6 (C P Murtagh 66, R K Oliver 58, R Lockley 46; T S Anning 2-42, C Bradley 3-73).

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